JS, History, 1838–1856, vol. C-1, created 24 Feb. 1845–3 July 1845; handwriting of , , Jonathan Grimshaw, and ; 512 pages, plus 24 pages of addenda; CHL. This is the third volume of a six-volume manuscript history of the church. This third volume covers the period from 2 Nov. 1838 to 31 July 1842; the remaining five volumes, labeled A-1, B-1, D-1, E-1 and F-1, continue through 8 Aug. 1844.
Historical Introduction
This document, “History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 [2 November 1838–31 July 1842],” is the third of six volumes of the “Manuscript History of the Church” (in The Joseph Smith Papers the “Manuscript History” bears the editorial title “History, 1838–1856”). The completed six-volume collection covers the period from 23 December 1805 to 8 August 1844. The narrative in this volume commences on 2 November 1838 with JS and other church leaders being held prisoner by the “’s forces” at , Missouri, and concludes with the death of Bishop at , Illinois, on 31 July 1842. For a more complete discussion of the entire six-volume work, see the general introduction to this history.
Volume C-1 was created beginning on or just after 24 February 1845 and its narrative was completed by 3 May 1845, although some additional work continued on the volume through 3 July of that year (Richards, Journal, 24 and 28 Feb. 1845; Historian’s Office, Journal, 3 May 1845; 3 and 4 July 1845). It is in the handwriting of and contains 512 pages of primary text, plus 24 pages of addenda. Additional addenda for this volume were created at a later date as a supplementary document and appear in this collection as “History, 1838-1856, volume C-1 Addenda.” Compilers and Thomas Bullock drew heavily from JS’s letters, discourses, and diary entries; meeting minutes; church and other periodicals and journals; and reminiscences, recollections, and letters of church members and other contacts. At JS’s behest, Richards maintained the first-person, chronological-narrative format established in previous volumes, as if JS were the author. , , , and others reviewed and modified the manuscript prior to its eventual publication in the Salt Lake City newspaper Deseret News.
The historical narrative recorded in volume C-1 continued the account of JS’s life as prophet and president of the church. Critical events occurring within the forty-five-month period covered by this text include the Mormon War; subsequent legal trials of church leaders; expulsion of the Saints from Missouri; missionary efforts in by the and others; attempts by JS to obtain federal redress for the Missouri depredations; publication of the LDS Millennial Star in England; the migration of English converts to ; missionary efforts in other nations; the death of church patriarch ; the establishment of the city charter; the commencement of construction of the Nauvoo ; the expedition that facilitated temple construction; the introduction of the doctrine of proxy baptism for deceased persons; the dedicatory prayer by on the Mount of Olives in Palestine; publication of the “Book of Abraham” in the Nauvoo Times and Seasons; publication of the JS history often referred to as the “Wentworth letter;” the organization of the Female Relief Society of Nauvoo; and the inception of Nauvoo-era temple endowment ceremonies.
<September 14th 1840> with his brother 2400 miles in , , , and New Hampshire, visiting the branches of the church in those States and bestowing patriarchal blessings on several hundred persons, preaching the gospel to all who would hear, and baptizing many. They arrived at on the 2nd of Octr 1836. During the persecution in in 1837 he was made a prisoner but fortunately obtained his liberty, and after a very tedious journey in the spring and summer of 1838 he arrived at , Missouri. After I and my brother were thrown into the Jails by the Mob he fled from under the exterminating order of Governor and made his escape in midwinter to Illinois from whence he removed to in the Spring of 1839. The exposures he suffered brought on consumption of which he died on this fourteenth day of September 1840 aged 69 years 2 months and 2 days
He was 6 feet 2 inches high, was very straight and remarkably well proportioned his ordinary weight was about 200 lbs, and he was very strong and active. In his young days he was famed as a wrestler, and Jacob like, he never wrestled with but one man, whom he could not throw. He was one of the most benevolent of men, opening his house to all who were destitute. While at , Illinois he fed hundreds of the poor saints who were flying from the persecutions although he had arrived there penniless himself. See page 1094. [1 line blank]
City of , Hancock Co. Ills February 2nd. 1841 To the County Recorder of the County of . Dear Sir At a meeting of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, at this place, on Saturday the 30th day of January A.D. 1841 I was elected sole Trustee for said Church, to hold my office during life (my Successors to be the first Presidency of said Church) and vested with Plenary Powers, as sole Trustee in Trust for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, to receive, acquire, manage, or convey property, real personal or mixed, for the sole use and benefit of said Church, agreeably to the (see continuation page 24)
The following is copied from the Millenial Star of April 1841:
Difference between <this copied in Addenda book page 20 to 24> theBaptists and Latter-Day Saints. From the “North Staffordshire Mercury.”Sir,— In a late publication, you reported the case of some persons who were taken before T. B. Rose, Esqre. for disturbing a congregation of “Latter-Day Saints”, or believers in the “Book of Mormon”. A teacher of that sect, on being asked by the Magistrate wherein they differed from the Baptists, replied, “in the laying on of hands;” but declined making an honest confession of those pecularities which separate them as widely from the Baptists as from every other denomination of the christian church. This was certainly prudent; but as the Baptists feel themselves dishonoured by such an alliance, they would be unjust to themselves were they to leave unanswered such a libel upon their denomination. The following very prominent marks of difference will enable your readers to judge for themselves.
1.— The Saints admit all persons indiscriminately to baptism, encouraging them to pass through that rite, with the promise that great spiritual improvement will follow. They baptize for remission of sins, without waiting for credible evidence of repentance for sin. But the Baptists admit none to that ordinance who [p. 21 [addenda]]